Lao Tie Mountain Reserve, Dalian

The top of Lao Tie Mountain, 466 meters above sea level, affords a fantastic view of the cobalt sea stretching away to distant Peng Lai Island, where Chinese emperors once sent expeditions to search for a magic elixir rumored to make immortal anyone who drank it. Dangerously steep cliffs, serene surroundings and luxuriant vegetation make this a paradise for migratory birds, and every winter hundreds of thousand of birds of more than 200 species make a stopover here. They include endangered species like the red-crowned crane, black stork and vulture.